I once read “The Island of Knowledge” by Marcelo Gleiser.
It goes through the history of science and human knowledge as a way to uncover meaning in life. It is a good book but, if I’m being honest, there were not many things that stuck with me.
However, in the book's introduction, he shares this metaphor that I’ve carried with me ever since.
Our knowledge, as human beings, is like an Island. Once you go to its limits, you’re faced with a vast ocean of “unknowing”. Our quest, as humans, is to extend that island, by trying out different things and discovering how to build on top of that unknown.
Looking back at the history of science, one can claim that we have made a lot of progress. Think about all the things that were unknown to human beings 100 years ago, how much smaller this Island of Knowledge was…
Even though Gleiser points out this island as the sum of human knowledge, I really enjoy the metaphor applied at an individual level.
Each one of us has its own Island but, contrary to our species, usually we don’t seek out its limits. We prefer to stay within the confines of what we know.
Another way to look at this is to use the light metaphor that Dandapani points out in his book The Power of Unwavering Focus, applied to knowledge instead of consciousness.
Imagine your knowledge as a field, illuminated with different intensities related to how deep is that knowledge.
Daily things are highly illuminated whereas those small details about a book you read 2 years ago resemble a big room lit only by a candle.
What I really enjoy in both of these metaphors is the way you deal with the unknown.
The exploration of that unknown takes time and effort but culminates with the integration of new knowledge.
A new piece of your island occupies what once was the ocean.
A new light shines where once lived darkness.
There is, in my opinion, an internal hunger for that. A desire to know. A desire to embrace wisdom.
A desire for Métis.
May all of us embrace it.
When you get lost it just means that the world has become larger than your knowledge of it.
Day 42
Instantly reminded me of this quote:
"We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance."
- John Archibald Wheeler